Project Number: 3625-32000-064-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jan 16, 2002
End Date: Jan 15, 2007

Objective:
The objectives are 1) to develop nucleic acid-based diagnostic and typing assays for detection and strain discrimination of B. bronchiseptica, P. multocida, and other respiratory pathogens; 2) to determine the ability of these organisms and their products to act in concert with other respiratory pathogens to exacerbate disease; 3) to identify, through genomic and proteomic analysis, changes in gene expression of the host and infectious agents during the infectious process; 4) to identify commonalities and differences in the immune response to various respiratory pathogens in order to devise novel methods of disease resolution; and 5) to evaluate intervention strategies to control porcine respiratory disease, including vaccination and treatment with an adenovirus recombinant vector that expresses porcine interferon (collaboration with Marvin Grubman, PIADC).

Approach:
Nucleic acid-based diagnostic and typing assays will be developed to detect and discriminate among bacterial species, strains, and substrains in porcine respiratory disease. Pathogenesis studies will be used to determine the ability of organisms to act in concert with other respiratory pathogens to exacerbate disease. Changes in gene expression in the host during the infection process will be determined through the use of various genomic approaches (EST, microarray, SAGE, rtPCR, RNase protection assays and/or sequencing). Changes in gene expression of the organism during infection will also be determined through the use of genomic and proteomic approaches. Potential virulence factors identified through the aforementioned techniques will be confirmed by comparing disease induced by virulent etiologic agents and mutants void of the specific determinant. Evaluation of innate and adaptive immune responses during infection with various pathogens will help determine if there are common responses or defects induced by the pathogens which might be exploited or repaired. Existing and novel intervention strategies will be evaluated for their ability to reduce morbidity and mortality with regards to mixed respiratory infections. IBC#0205-BSL-2; exempt; Recertified October 16, 2004; IBC#0207-BSL-2; Recertified October 16, 2004; IBC#0208-BSL-2; exempt; Recertified October 17, 2004; IBC#0232-BSL-2; Recertified October 20, 2004; IBC#0233-BSL-2; Recertified October 17, 2004; IBC #0234-BSL-2; Recertified October 17, 2004; IBC#0235-BSL-2; exempt; Recertified October 17, 2004; IBC#0240-BSL-2; exempt; Recertified October 17, 2004; IBC#0245-BSL-2; Recertified October 17, 2004; IBC #0267-BSL-2; exempt; Recertified August 3, 2004.

Project Team

Brockmeier, Susan Andersen, Arthur - Art Tabatabai, Louisa Register, Karen Sacco, Randy

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002